Trousers stretcher and presser.



W. V. LANE.

TROUSERS STRETCHER AND PRESSER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1908.

948,895., Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

TROUSERS STRETCHER AND PRESSER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILTON V. LANE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eureka Springs, in the county of Carroll and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trousers Stretchers and Pressers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trousers stretchers, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character constructed of a pair of standards hinge'dly secured together and being provided with transversely arranged cloth engaging members of a novel construction, the leaf of the hinge connecting one section or standard being rigidly secured thereto, while the opposite leaf of the hinge is provided with an elongated slot by which it may be adjusted in regard to the opposite standard, the standard contacted by the slotted leaf being provided with a suitable thumb screw whereby the standard may be effectively retained in adjusted position, and this standard is also provided with a cross sectionally U-shaped sliding member adapted to engage the sides of both of the standards and sustain them in perfect rigid relation with each other.

lVith the above, and other objects in view, which will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing there has been shown a simple and preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that minor changes and modifications of the details therein illustrated may be resorted to if desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts folded. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable slide.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the improved trousers or cloth stretcher. This stretcher 1 comprises essentially a pair of members 2 and 3 hingedly connected together. The upper member comprises a standard l having its end provided with a transversely arranged cloth clamping device. This device comprises a pair of adj ust-ably connected bars hereinafter fully described. The lower section 3 also Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 29, 1908.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910. Serial No. 455,262.

comprises a standard 5 to which is rigidly secured the leaf 6 of the hinge member connecting the standards together. The oppo site leaf 7 of the hinge is provided with an elongated slot, and the standard 4 is provided with a threaded member 9 projecting through the slot 8 and adapted to be engaged by a securing nut 10. Positioned upon one side of the standard 4 through the medium of an adjustable element 11 is the cross sectionally U-shaped sliding device 12. This device 12 has its body portion provided with an elongated slot or cut away portion 13 through which the element 11 is adapted to project and this element 11 is provided with a headed member 14 through the medium of which the slide 12 may be adjusted. The standard 5 has its lower end provided with transversely extending cloth clamping members 15, of a similar construction to the clamping members carried by the standard ft, and the reference numerals applied to the clamping member 15 may be equally applicable to the clamping device carried by the standard. The clamping device 15 has one of its members 16 rigidly secured to the standard 5 and is effectively braced thereon through the medium of suitable brace rods 1'7 extending at an angle from each edge of the standard toward the outer portions of the member 16 The numeral 18 designates the second member of the clamping device. The members 16 and 18 are both of an equal length and width and extend a suitable distance from each side of the standard 5. The members 16 and 18 are each provided adjacent their ends with suitable perforations adapted for the reception of the threaded bolts 19 and these bolts are adapted to be engaged by wing nuts 20. Both of the members 16 and 18 have their faces provided with suitable channels or depressions 21 surrounding the orifices adapted for the reception of the bolt 19 whereby a suitable space is provided for the reception of a helical spring 22 which is adapted to surround the bolts and to normally force the members 16 and 18 away from each other and thus provide for the ready insertion of the cloth or trousers.

In operation the slide 12 is positioned upon the standard 4 outof engagement with the standard 5, the winged nut 10 is loosened upon the element 9 and the members are folded as desired, the wing nuts20 are adjusted to allow the members 16 and 18 to as r 948,895

spread apart to allow for the trousers or cloth being inserted between them. The members are then drawn together through the medium of the winged members 20 thus tightly engaging and holding the cloth. It is to be understood that the members 4: and

- 5 have been folded at a desired angle and pulled away from each other a suflicient distance to tightly stretch the cloth engaged by the clamping members, and the winged nut 10 is now turned upon the threaded element 9 to secure the slotted leaf 7 of the hinge in proper position upon the standard 4, the standards a and 5 are then folded down wardly upon their hinged connection .until they are brought into an alinement with each other when the cross sectionally U- shaped member 12 is slid into engagement with the side of the standard 5 and retained in said engagement through the medium of the securing element 14. The upper clamping device 15 is provided with a hook 24, and the device containing the stretched cloth may be hung upon a nail or hook until the process of stretching the cloth is entirely completed, when the cloth may be released from the clamps and the device folded by simply sliding the member 12 out of engagement with the standard 5, as clearly illus trated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

It will be noted that when the stretcher 1 is not in use it will occupy a small amount of space within a closet or other desired location and that the same, in its folded position, may be easily carried within a trunk or a dresssuit case of the owner.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a trousers stretcher and presser, a pair of alining standards hingedly connected together, said standards being each provided at their free ends with transversely arranged clamping members, brace members connecting the clamping members and the standards, the connecting hinge of the standards having one of its butts rigidly secured to one of the standards and its opposite butt provided with an elongated slot and adapted to overlie the opposite standard, a headed threaded member upon this standard engaging the face of the butt adjacent the slot, a threaded element for one of the standards, an elongated. U-shaped member having its connecting face provided with an elongated slot adapted to engage with the threaded element, and a headed member adapted to en gage with the projecting threaded member to secure the slidable U-shaped member in engagement with one or both of the standards.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILTON V. LANE.

Witnesses:

L. M. LANE, CLARA E. LANE. 

